Roles, responsibilities, and skills in

Program Management
Before you read this blog, it will be helpful if you first get familiar with project
management and everything it involves.

Program management is something similar but works differently.

Project Management Institute of USA, mentions the definition of Project,

Project Management, Program, and Program Management as per below in A
Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, PMBOK Guide VIth
Edition –

What is a project?  

A project, as a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product,

service, or result.

What is Project Management?  

Project Management, as the application of knowledge, skills tools, and

techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements. 

What is a program?

A program, as a group of related projects, subprograms, and program

activities that are managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits not
available from managing them individually.

What is Program Management?

Program Management, as the application of knowledge, skills, and principles

to a program to achieve the program objectives and to obtain benefits and
control not available by managing program components individually. 

Example 1 – To start a new website, which can be looked at as a program.

The related projects could be designing of the website, development of the
website, running a marketing campaign for the website.

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Example 2 – A new satellite system program with related projects for deigning
of the satellite, construction of the satellite, designing of the ground stations,
construction of the ground stations, launching of the satellite and integration
of the satellite

Who is a Program Manager?

Firstly, a program manager can be thought of as a manager of the project

manager’s or group manager as in earlier days. The roles and responsibilities
of a group manager were not the same as of today’s program manager,
though. 

Secondly, a program manager’s role is mainly operational and is responsible

for planning, governance, and overseeing the successful delivery of the
program’s output (product).

Thirdly, although the program manager’s knowledge of the business is

important, stress is more on program management skills.
Responsibilities of a Program Manager are: -

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 Required to have a broad view of program objectives
 Ensure program goals and objectives are and remain aligned to the
overall strategic objectives of the organization
 Set up the program and then managing it ensuring that it is performing
according to the plan
 Program management throughout the program life cycle by planning the
overall program and monitoring the progress on a daily basis
 Define the program governance (controls) and then management and
oversight of the program’s interactions with the program governance
function
 Familiarity with organizational cultures and their processes
 Familiarity with project and program management methodology and
techniques
 Engage all stakeholders 
 Manage communication across all stakeholders 
 Manage the program’s budget
 Manage risks and issues and taking corrective measurements
 Coordinate the projects and their interdependencies
 Manage and utilize resources across projects
 Align the deliverables (outputs) to the program’s outcome along with
business change manager and 
 Manage all program documentation
 Ability to find innovative ways to resolve problems or issues,
systematically and effectively during the course of the program, such as
optimizing and sharing resources across the program for obtaining
benefits overseeing requirements and configuration management
across components
Skills and attributes of the Program Manager –

The program manager must have strong practical experience in managing

large and complex projects. He or she must have the following: -

 Must possess strong leadership and management skills 

 Must possess strong communication skills to interact effectively with
various stakeholders such as customers, sponsors, senior
management, project managers, project team members, vendors,
suppliers, and other program stakeholders
 Developing a program communications management plan to address
the stakeholders needs and expectations and also to provide key
information in a timely manner in the format designed by the requestor
 Must have an experience working as a project manager
 Must be strong in managing program’s scope, time, cost, quality, human
resources, communication, risk, procurements, and integration aspects
 Must also be strong in establishing program governance and program
financial management i.e, budget management
 Ability to work with the wide range of individuals involved in program
management to help them successfully complete their work and also to
integrate the components deliverables into the program’s end product,
service and results with benefits
 Identification of stakeholders, getting an understanding of their needs
and expectations, developing a stakeholder engagement strategy to
support these stakeholders so that the stakeholder’s expectations can
be aligned with the program objectives and ultimately improve the
overall acceptance of the program objectives